10.71 lakh kids, 2.85 lakh mothers get nutritional support

Chandigarh, Feb 22 (UNI) As many as 10.71 lakh children upto six years and 2.85 lakh pregnant and nursing mothers were being provided supplementary nutrition by the Haryana Women and Child Development Department, Women and Child Development Minister, Mrs Kartar Devi said here today.

The present Government had enhanced the financial norms of supplementary nutrition with effect from January 1, 2007 thus making these highest in the country, she said.

The rates were revised to ensure that the beneficiaries get the required protein and calories as per the norms under its Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. These rates were the highest in the country, she added.

She said that these rates were enhanced from Rs two to Rs three per day per child and Rs five for severely malnourished child per day. In case of adolescent girls and mothers, these rates have been doubled to Rs five per day.

She said that for the year 2007-08, about Rs.232 crore were provided in the budget for the implementation of ICDS scheme. Out of it, Rs. 91.48 crore were for ICDS scheme and over Rs. 140.11 crore for providing supplementary nutrition.

The Minister said that the Department has incurred an expenditure of Rs. 412.53 crore for the implementation of ICDS scheme from March 2005 to December 2007. This expenditure included more than Rs.

214.54 crore for providing supplementary nutrition to children, adolescent girls and mothers during the same period.

She said that the number of Anganwadi Centers has increased from 13,546 to 17,444 including 252 Mini Anganwadi Centres. A total of 137 projects, including 18 in urban areas, were being implemented under ICDS scheme in the State.

UNI JN VN1545